What exactly is a catered chalet?

RoseR,

I've got the munchies now!

Rose that log cabin sounds fab and I also like the idea of the all inclusive. I have been pricing holidays for next year and for the 2 adults and 2 kids to go somewhere like La Plagne on 13th March HB is somewhere in the region of £2000 this is without the lift passes or ski hire. would this be about correct do you think or are there beter offers than that.

Thanks for all your comments about the catered chalets,it was as I feared and is definitly not up my street. Making my husband sit down to dinner with other people and making conversation is probably his worst nightmare and I have a thing about other people eating. like someone said about bad habits etc.... my own family get on my wick with their habits so I probalby wouldnt tolerate anyone elses lol.

I think either self catering in an apartmetn or Hotel would be the way to go for us. I have even started making a database of the resorts I have been recommended.....how sad.!

karen

Hi Karen,
Well, if you organized it all yourself, and went self-catering, I'm sure you could do it for less than that. But you'd have to manage without the support of a resort rep. I like planning it all myself, it keeps me occupied until the next ski holiday. And you get much more choice than if you went with a tour operator.

If you look on the La Plagne tourist board website, www.la-plagne.com, they have lots of self-catered apartments. You could probably get a pretty good one for about 600 euros next Easter (although you wouldn't be able to book one yet). I always get one for about 2 more people than what I really have, because they are very 'compact' e.g. you can't eat at the table until you've turned the double bed back into a sofa.

And if you booked your flights early I should think you could get them for £100 each, or less, e.g. from Luton to Geneva with easyjet. And then you could get a bus or taxi from Geneva to La Plagne (I haven't done this but I would think it would be a maximum of £200 return for all of you to travel 90 miles). Or, you could do what we do, and get the train. Eurostar's direct ski train goes from London St Pancras to Aime La Plagne, which is only about 11 miles, or a 20 minute drive, from the ski resort of La Plagne, and the bus tickets return would only be about 20 euros each I would think. If you got the train tickets early they shouldn't cost more than £200 each.

This is only a rough costing, of course, because I don't know where you live. Flights from regional airports always seem to cost a lot more. And I don't know how important the price is to you. Cheap 2/3 star apartments suit us fine, but you may want somewhere more palatial. We always pick them on location - close to the ski school, ski hire shop, piste, and lifts. And a short transfer time is very important to me, because I get car sick, so I prefer the train because you can get much closer to the mountain resorts. I think Geneva is a 2 1/2 hour transfer from La Plagne, and you'd have to check the price of the bus tickets.

Total by train, assuming 1 euro to the pound = £600 + £800 + £80 = £1480
Total by plane from Luton = £600 + £400 + £200 = £1200

Hope this helps,

Ally

Karen we always go round about 21st Jan or thereabouts, not only is it a bit cheaper, its always a lot quieter and plenty of snow. I,ll give you an estimate of how much some of our hols have cost always through a TO.

All inclusive to Austria....thats flights, transfers,hotel, full board,ski bus,lift passes, ski hire, ski lessons. £1250 for the two of us.

Hotel in Austria,.......thats flights, transfers, hotel, half board with free drinks........no lift passes, ski bus, ski hire or lessons they were extra and we booked when we got there. £1300

Log Cabin in Ruka/Lapland for 2010 works out at

flights and transfers and log cabin £816, plus £252 supplements because there are just the two of us, so this would probably work out to cover the cost of the kids.

Minus £180 discount for internet and early bird booking.
Plus we paid in advance for Snowmobile safari, reindeer safari and husky safari, will probably book a few more when we get there cost £266

So total for the two of us self catering is £1154.

This of course is no lessons, lift passes or ski hire.

pretty good prices rose, do you use the same to?

Chambery-->La Plagne is cheap with Altibus, or you can get the train. Potentially a better option than Geneva and a big ass transfer.

amanda n wrote:pretty good prices rose, do you use the same to?

Have always used Crystal for Austria but when we booked exactly the same holiday for Ruka Inghams came in at £500 cheaper, which is a hell of a saving. So have stuck with Inghams for next year again and their reps were fantastic, attended every Safari, sorted coachs etc, every-thing.

Skiers generally fall into 3 camps: Self Caterers, Hotelers and Chaleters.

The range in quality of chalets is comparable to the range in quality of hotels.

A catered chalet will offer breakfast (usually with a cooked option), afternoon tea (cake etc) and a 3/4 course meal with unlimited wine. You room will be cleaned if the chalet staff are doing their job properly!

Quality of food and wine and free extras will depend on the TO and the budget they set. The more expensive will offer a choice of wines, canapes & drinks before dinner, port with the cheese etc.

Dinner will be all together unless you have agreed a kids session as well. It is usually at 8 pm but that is usually negotiable to a degree within reason. If you have special eating requirements, these will generally be accommodated so long as the TO is notified in advance (shopping for the following week is generally done on the Friday of the week before).

Ski hosting depends on the TO and is not dependant upon being in a chalet. However, guides are NOT instructors or a substitute for ski school. Red run ability is usually the minimum standard.

Everyone on the holiday will have one thing in common - a like/love for 'riding the mountain'. Strangers will only be that for the first evening.

In 5 seasons working in chalets I only ever had one dull group, and having also stayed in numerous chalets, I've never had a problem.

It is important however to remember that a chalet is NOT an hotel, and your staff are part of the holiday - they will eat with you and may socialise with you too. Look after them, and they should look after you! A chalet is less formal than many hotels but most people who go with a reasonable company are hooked.

Find the small specialist companies - their service and staff to guest ratios are generally far better.